gorse

gorse

(gôrs)

n.

Any of several spiny evergreen shrubs of the genus Ulex of the pea family, especially U. europaeus, native to Europe and naturalized elsewhere, having fragrant yellow flowers and black pods. Also called furze, whin1.

[Middle English gorst, gors, from Old English.]

gorse

(ɡɔːs)

n

(Plants) any evergreen shrub of the leguminous genus Ulex, esp the European species U. europeaus, which has yellow flowers and thick green spines instead of leaves. Also called: furzeorwhin

[Old English gors; related to Old Irish garb rough, Latin horrēre to bristle, Old High German gersta barley, Greek khēr hedgehog]

ˈgorsyadj

gorse

(gɔrs)

n.

any spiny European evergreen shrub of the genus Ulex, of the legume family, having rudimentary leaves and yellow flowers. Also called furze.

[before 900; Middle English gorst, Old English; akin to Old High German gersta, Latin hordeum barley]

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